Coach: Butch Goncharoff, 8th year (87-8 record)

Last season: 11-2, 7-1 KingCo 3A

Key departed players: David Decastro, OL/DL; Rusty Haehl, RB/LB; Danny Razore, RB/DB; Josh Strasser, K; Laddell Carroll, RB/LB; Eddie Mills, OL/DL.

Impact players: Jamal Atofau, Sr., RB/S; Peter Nguyen, Sr., RB/LB; Tommy Castle, Sr., QB/DB; Brayden Van Ackeren, Jr., WR/DB; Cam Warren, Sr., QB/S; Eric Nelson, Sr., FB/LB; Sean Conners, Sr., CB/LB/WR; Freddie Levine, Jr., RB; Joe Joe Conners, Jr., QB; Taylor Anderson, Sr., WR/DB.

Best kept secret: Cam Warren, Sr., QB/CB. Warren is Bellevue’s “one true captain” according to coach Butch Goncharoff, who believes the undersized (5-foot-10) Warren might be the area’s (if not the state’s) best safety.

2008 Schedule

9/6 vs. Central Catholic at PGE Park in Portland

9/12 vs. Bothell

9/20 vs. California High School at Qwest Field

9/26 vs. Mount Si

10/3 at Mercer Island

10/10 vs. Sammamish

10/17 at Juanita

10/24 vs. Liberty

10/31 at Interlake

The Bottom Line: Coach Butch Goncharoff won’t let his team overlook the KingCo 3A competition, which he believes is much better than most give it credit for. With lots of talented young players, Bellevue has an extremely bright future, but with the high expectations that always surround the Wolverines program, nothing less than a run to the state playoffs will be good enough.